A Friday Buffet
No. 016 Suddenly seeking spring. Or at least sunshine!
Hello!
As the snow falls steadily outside, I am fondly thinking of several months from now when the snow will be gone and our yard will be bright green; flowers will be popping up all over. Is it me or has there been a unusually low number of sunny days this January? I know Boston winter isn’t known for plentiful sunshine, but I honestly could use a hearty dose of it!
It has been a busy month and while the weather doesn’t entirely control my mood, I definitely prefer a higher percentage of sunny (or at least not snowy/rainy) days. Clearly I should be living elsewhere! Ha. No no, I love being in New England and greatly appreciate the seasons; however, I am already in the mood for spring and it’s not even February. Same for you?
In the scheme of things, this winter has not yet been that “bad.” And yes, I’ll stop talking about the weather momentarily. I think it was my placing a massive order of dahlia tubers (check out Five Forks Farm!) for our yard a couple weeks ago which prompted this excitement for the next season. Seth graciously has agreed to create a space for all of the dahlias and I’m pretty excited (and hopeful) that by late-summer we’ll have a ridiculous dahlia display in our yard. Garden parties aplenty. Fingers crossed!
Another reason I prefer late-winter and spring is due to the fact that I’m already looking forward to putting away the sweaters (I love to be cozy, but I’m ready for a change). I’ve been carefully putting together a spring wardrobe with a few key pieces (and a couple pairs of shoes) that I bought on sale, but have no need to wear no sooner than April. I will look at them longingly until then. No surprise here, but guess what I’m wearing this spring? Neutrals! With a pop of pink. And green. :)
Not only am I excited for spring because of the improved weather, the opportunity to turn our yard into a fantastic flower show, and the chance to wear light layers without a jacket, but this will be our third spring season in our house! Yes, this weekend (January 21, 2023) we celebrate two full years since we bought and moved into our first home. Hooray! Wowza…time flies.
So much has happened in these two quick years! Thankfully, our house (originally built in 1900) didn’t need much to make it feel home-y fairly quickly. We got rid of the orange and green walls; fresh white paint did a wonder of difference to make the space feel bright and modern. I added vintage rugs to most of the rooms for some color and pattern. One of the bedrooms became the in-home gym, another is my office / plant palace / overflow closet, and our primary bedroom is a calm space with neutral tones and my own photographs on the wall.
While I wouldn’t consider the design of our house “done",” I am confident that it doesn’t need too much more. Some of my plans for this year (hopefully) will include ordering roman shades for a few rooms and finally hanging up more framed photos. The stack of images in my office is getting taller by the week.
I printed (my go-to for photos is mpix) a handful of scenic photos from last summer and I cannot wait to hang them all over. It’s amazing how framed photos can change the feel of a room almost instantly and encourage constant reminders of joyful moments. I am considering a gallery wall in the living room since there is a big, blank wall that is screaming for attention. I would also like to hang a series of photos up the stairway; possibly a set in black and white - we’ll just have to see!
My urge to get everything done immediately when we moved in worked up to a point. Suddenly I couldn’t make certain design decisions quickly, work got much busier, and now a handful of ideas have been waiting on the sidelines for - you guessed it - almost two full years. As I said, time flies!
Now that things are calmer, more organized, and I have a better sense of the style I’d like to continue incorporating, I’m excited to dive back into design projects. I will be framing more photos, seeking vintage runners for the hallways, and contemplating some small updates in the kitchen and main bathroom. Of course, nothing is done instantly and the second one begins inquiring about the cost associated with any idea / design plan…things can change.
I tend to not love the “little by little” way of proceeding with home design, but I do understand why it makes sense. Have you ever considered changing a light fixture or a kitchen faucet? There are literally more options than you would ever need and deciding on which is best feels…somewhat impossible. However, having a preferred price range in mind is helpful and an idea of color preference does narrow the options a bit. Even so, making design decisions is not a one-and-done process even for someone like me who has strong opinions on, well, everything!
What I have decided after living in this house for two years is that I love a Victorian home with so many original details, yet it has been modernized to a degree through the previous owners. Our added touches of modernization have been less obvious (we didn’t need to re-do the kitchen or bathrooms immediately), but have made the house feel warm and welcoming in our own style.
That’s the great thing about old homes; the original details provide so much elegance and style before you even change a paint color. The changes we’ve made, and those we’ll make in the future, will only make the house more special and unique. :)
Do you live in an older home? Or one that has some really great character? I’d love to know! Please feel free to send me a comment using the link below.
And for inquiring [foodie] minds…
If you’re in Boston, I highly recommend brunch at the Oak Long Bar and Kitchen located inside the Fairmont Copley Plaza. The pancakes are always gluten free and they’re scrumptious! I also love the corned beef hash and eggs.
A recipe we’ve made a few times recently is the Moroccan-Spiced Chicken Meatballs from NYT Cooking. I love serving them with a garlic-lemon-yogurt sauce and a veggie rice. Delicious for dinner and the leftovers are perfect for lunch!
To celebrate two years in our house, I think we need a visit to Kane’s Donuts for a selection of their amazing gluten free goodies. I love the plain chocolate frosted and the cinnamon sugar.
A buffet for today: 1/20/2023
Is anyone out there using a weighted blanket? I’m considering a purchase.
I love the color and multiple pockets on this Varley jacket, but it’s definitely more of a end-of-winter / fall style. Just browsing, I promise…
Who else is excited for ‘Ted Lasso’ to finally return?
On the topic of fine dining’s demise…
Epicurious is sharing 43 gluten free dinners - but you could just follow me on Instagram. I’ve shared far more than that. ;)
I ordered this Madewell shirt-jacket for an incredibly good price (extra 30% off right now) and I’m excited for its arrival.
Strongly considering this Beef Queso Dip as a dish to enjoy while watching football this weekend (or during the Super Bowl).
White Chicken Chili Burrito Bowls may make their way to our table, too.
Who wouldn’t devour a chocolate pecan pie bar? I’ll take two.
This historic home tour has elements of our house; the owner kept original details (plenty of original wood) and added their own special touch. :)
Just for fun luxury is away on holiday. Lucky! She’ll be back next week from her tropical travels.
Cheers and joy,
Mollie
